Fuse and switch receptacle



Jan. 7, 11936 W. J. BAUROTH 2943259957 FUSE AND SWITCH RECEPTACLE Filed March 10, 1931 [N I/EN TOF? Wei/fer Bauro 7V7 Patented Jan. 7, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FUSE AND SWITCH RECEPTACLE Walter J. Bauroth,

Columbus, Ohio, assignor to The Jefirey Manufacturing Company,

Colum- 5 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in permissible flame-proof containers for electrical equipment employed in and about mines and more particularly to combined fuse and switch receptacles.

An important object of the invention is to provide a flame-proof receptacle for a combined fuse and switch assembly which is detachably mounted therein and retained in position by a closure for the receptacle which carries a switch actuator positioned so as to be operably coupled with the switch when the closure is positioned on the receptacle.

Another important object of the invention is to provide for the compact arrangement of fuses and switch whereby they can be conveniently and removably enclosed in the same flame-proof. receptacle and securely retained in operative position therein.

Another important object of the invention is to provide such an arrangement in which the assembly is automatically released upon removal of the closure for the ready renewal of burned-out fuses.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawing forming a part of the description and wherein like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the several views:-

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the receptacle with the closure therefor removed and the combined fuse and switch assembly pulled out to a position for replacements;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section oi the improved receptacle showing the closure in position thereon for holding the combined fuse and switch assembly in position as well as the switch operator properly associated with the switch of the assembly;

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the same; and

Figure 4 is a transverse section taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 2.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing for a detailed description of the construction of the device, the numeral 5 designates a substantially square or rectangular receptacle constructed of any suitable material. This receptacle has one end 6 closed with the exception of a pair oi well sealed apertures for the passage of electric power cables or wires 1 and 8 enclosing conductor wires 9 secured to the combined switch and fuse assembly indicated in its entirety bythe numeral I0.

The opposite end oi the receptacle is provided with a circular opening screw threaded as at H; it being observed from Figure 4 that a portion of this end of the casing is oii-set as at l2 and contains portions of the threads I I. An annular rib or web I4 is provided on the interior of. the receptacle inwardly of the threads H for a purpose to be presently described.

This rib is arranged in substantially the same plane with the inner part of the ofi-set portion [2 so as to cooperate therewith in forming an internal annular seat l5 within the receptacle. A pair of apertured attachment lugs [6 are provided on the exterior surface at one side of the receptacle for bolting the same to a suitable supporting plate, not shown.

A third apertured lug l1 projects from the exterior surface or" the open threaded end of the receptacle through which a sealing wire l8 or other suitable form of lock may be threaded after passage of the same through a corresponding ear l9 projecting radially from the open end of a closure cap 20. A series of these lugs l9 may be provided around the cap so that any one of them can be employed for establishing the interlock between the cap and receptacle regardless oi the relative rotative position of these parts.

The closure cap 20 is provided with a reduced exteriorly screw threaded open end 2| which is adapted to be screwed into the threaded end of the receptacle to form a flame-proof enclosure for the assembly heretofore mentioned. The other end of the closure cap 20 is tapered off to terminate in an axially projecting apertured boss 22 communicating with the interior of the cap and constituting a bearing for a switch actuator 23 in the form of a rotatable pin or shaft 24 having its inner end projecting into the interior of the closure and provided with a coupling device in the form of spaced prongs 25 adapted to be engaged with a rotatable operating button or handle 26 of a conventional snap switch 21 which will be more fully described hereinafter. This coupling device 25 snugly fits against the inner surface of the boss and a corresponding fit is made between the pin 24 and cap so as to preclude the possibility of explosions caused by leakage of flame or sparks through the apertured boss or the ingress of combustible gas into the casing. The outer end of this pin is provided with an enlarged operating head 28 suitably secured to the actuator and fitted closely against the outer surface of the boss to assist in preventing explosions lue to causes just mentioned.

Zhe laoeced rlosed end oi the closure cap is also provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced wings 29 which extend longitudinally outwardly of the cap and are apertured as at 39. These wings surround the apertured boss and protect the operating head and may be employed to facilitate a suitable tool gripping the closure cap to rotate the same to open or closed positions. A padlock, not shown, may be inserted in the aperture of any of the lugs to abut a supporting plate, not shown, when the cap is turned to prevent further rotation of the cap.

The combined fuse and switch assembly is composed of an inverted T-shaped support 3| of insulating material with a stem portion forming a dividing partition 32 extending at right angles thereto and longitudinally throughout the length of the support for spacing a pair of fuses 33 detaohably mounted on the support 3| by means of suitably spaced spring clasps 34 of the well known construction. These clasps have terminal connectors 35 arranged at one end of the support for the connection of the wires 9, and connectors 35 at the opposite end of the support, connect wires leading from the switch .27 to the fuses.

This assembly also includes a support 38 for the switch 21 and in the present instance is in the form of a U-shaped yoke having its bridge portion 59 spanning and secured to one end of the support 3!, while its two arms straddle the fuse support and terminate in laterally extending segmental arms 39 adapted to seat upon the annular rib I4 of the receptacle and be releasably retained thereon by means of the inner end of the closure cap abutting therewith. It will be noticed that lower segmental arm 39 is of a. size to conform to the interior diameter of the circular portion of the receptacle. In this manner, the fuse and switch assembly is detachably and rigidly fastened in the receptacle with substantially one-half of the assembly, which carries the switch 21, extending into the hollow closure cap 29 and the button 26 of the switch arranged in axial alignment therewith and in alignment with the switch actuator 23. From this arrangement, it will be obvious that when the assembly is positioned in the receptacle and the closure cap is screwed onto the receptacle, the coupling device 25 of the switch actuator will automatically be brought into operative coupled relation with the switch button 26 so that the latter can be actuated from the exterior of the receptacle by turning the enlarged head 28.

In order to replace a burned out fuse or to repair any part within the receptacle, the closure cap 28 is simply unscrewed from the receptacle, thereby releasing the fuse and switch assembly from its seat l5. This assembly can then be withdrawn entirely from the receptacle by moving it outwardly of the open end of the receptacle as shown in Figure l, pulling with it the conductor cables I and 8 through the apertures in the end of the receptacle. The ruptured fuse may then be easily replaced and the assembly drawn back into the receptacle by pulling the wires 1 and 8 back through the receptacle thereby causing the assembly to move inwardly of the receptacle, drawing with it both lateral extensions 39 into abutment with the annular rib I 4. The closure cap may then be screwed into the receptacle to securely clamp the assembly in operative position therein, after which the sealing device l8 may be associated with the apertured lugs to prevent unauthorized opening of the receptacle. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the laterally extending end 39 of one of the yoke arms is provided with a longitudinally extending groove 4| which is adapted to register with an aperture 42 extending obliquely through an interior wall of the receptacle 5 into and through a portion of w the rib id upon which the laterally extending end of the arm 39 seats. This registration of groove and aperture is obtained by registration of the lugs i7 and 59, thereby assuring a continuous passage between the opening 42 and groove ii when the parts are in assembled relation. A pin 43 is inserted down into the aperture 42 and into the groove El to prevent rotation of the cap upon the receptacle.

Having fully described the detailed construction of the device, it is to be understood that various changes in the construction and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:--

1. A receptacle having an interior annular shoulder spaced inwardly from the open end thereof, an element detachably seated on said shoulder, a detachable closure for said receptacle engaging said element to retain the same securely upon the shoulder, and a pin extending through one of said members and into said element to prevent rotation of the element relative to said shoulder.

2. A combined fuse and switch receptacle, a closure therefor, a detachable fuse and switch support comprising a member upon which a fuse is mounted and a switch supporting memberisecured to the fuse member, and means interthe combined fuse and switch support is detachably and rigidly supported in the receptacle.

3. 'A combined fuse and switch receptacle having a seat, a removable closure for the receptacle, a detachable combined fuse and switch sup,- port comprising a fuse supporting member, a U-shaped switch supporting member secured to t5 the fuse supporting member :and having a pair of arms straddling the same, said arms having laterally extending portions receivable upon said seat and removably clamped thereon by said closure.

4. In a receptacle, a removable closure therefor, and'a fuse assembly including a yoke having its bridge forming a switch supporting portion, said yoke having arms terminating in laterally extending portions to engage with the 5 closure whereby theassembly is removably and rigidly. supported in the receptacle, said receptacle having an aperture, one of said laterally extending portions having an opening adapted to align with said aperture, and'a member inserted into said aligned openings to prevent rotation of said yoke relative to the receptacle.

5. Ina switch receptacle, a removable closure therefor, a U-shaped switch supporting element having its bight portion located in said closure, aswitch mounted on'the bight portion of said element, a fuse supporting member secured between the legs of said supporting element, and a switch actuator mounted in said closure and engageable with the switch upon positioning the closure upon the receptacle.

1 WALTER J. BAUROTH. 

